They were home again.

And they had their bodies back.

But she still just couldn't wrap her head around it. It had been years…six to be exact. From the time Al and Ed had left, leaving nothing but a promise to get their bodies back no matter what, she had spent endless days and sleepless night looking out the window, sitting up by the fire just waiting.

Waiting.

Waiting for a phone call.

Waiting for a letter.

Waiting for anything.

But it always happened the same; Ed and Al would get into something reckless and dangerous and come trudging back home only so Ed could get his automail tuned up—or replaced which often happened a lot more times than the routine tune ups.

Winry cringed inwardly as she recalled the countless times when he'd shown up on her doorstep, with his automail arm in shambles, barely held together by loose screws, shredded cables and singed wiring. She would grit her teeth and swing a wrench at his head for ruining her precious workmanship—no seriously, the woman got pissed off if there was even a scratch or dent.

Winry shook her head; her thoughts coming back to the present—and the two boys who now stood in her front yard, tousling with Den and chatting away with granny.

It was so strange; they both had their bodies back—the ones they'd been born with—yet somehow both Edward and Alphonse looked so foreign to her.

…especially Edward.

And it wasn't just the absence of his automail arm, now replaced with one of muscle, flesh and bone, his entire body was different.

First of all, he was taller. That was definitely something Winry had never expected; he'd always been short for his age and well, somewhere along the way, she'd assumed that he always would be—short, narrow and slight of frame.

But then it had been six years.

And clearly, it had done wonders for the elder Elric brother.

He was tall, broad and muscular.

Winry's cheeks flushed a pink shade as she stole a side glance at him. Edward's shoulders were now just above her eye level and they had to have at least doubled in width. His once short torso that she and Alphonse had always joked about 'skipping his waist and disappearing right into his legs' was now longer and muscular definition was evident beneath the thin cotton fabric of his cotton pull over.

Despite his arm being restored, somehow, he'd still managed to maintain his automail leg but that didn't seem to bother him…or Winry for that matter; she felt relieved, fearing that she'd be of no more use to him somehow if he no longer had something on him that 'needed fixing'.

Just then, she was pulled from her thoughts by the sudden awareness of a pair of eyes on her. Blinking a few times, she jerked her head sideways and caught Edward's golden stare trained on her from where he stood on the other side of Alphonse and Den. He didn't say anything, he just stared at her and she couldn't help but think that even his eyes seemed suddenly so different somehow.

Had they gotten more serious over the last six years?

No more than usual…right?

No, it wasn't seriousness she detected.

It was intensity.

That's it, she thought to herself. His eyes were deeper and more intense than she'd ever seen them before and it made her fidgety and edgy.

"What on earth has gotten into him? He's staring at me like I'm some kind of…alchemic formula he's trying to figure out."

She shifted her weight, turning her body just slightly away from the group and then dared a peek at him through her bangs.

He was still staring but this time the corner of his mouth was turned up in the softest and most subtle grin she'd ever seen.

"Winry, if you keep gaping at Edward any longer than you've already been, you're going to bore holes right through the poor boy." Granny scolded, pushing her glasses a little further up on her nose.

Winry balked. "Wha—I wasn't gaping at anybody!"

"From what I saw, that would definitely be considered gaping. Now stop your fussing and come inside; goodness knows, these boys are famished and there isn't a blessed thing cooked!"

Winry huffed but followed on Granny's heels inside. Why did she always have to embarrass Winry like that whenever Ed was around? It's like she looked for opportunities to call the girl out on her awkward manners. But then again, Winry grew up with two rough-housing boys so she figured her lack of manners and lady-like graces was their fault.

With a triumphant giggle and biting her lower lip, Winry traipsed up the front porch steps and into the house.

# # # #

After supper had been had and the dishes cleared, Winry slipped outside for a bit of fresh air and solitude.

She felt guilty but being around the boys now—especially Alphonse who was so talkative and animated—could be a bit stifling and overwhelming. Leaning against the railing, she rolled her neck a few times, then let her head hang back as she took a long deep breath of crisp evening air.

"It's kind of stifling in there, huh."

Whirling around, she came face to face with Edward's boyish grin as he came and stood next to her.

"I have to admit, after everything that's happened I'm feeling a little overwhelmed myself."

Winry stayed quite but her blue eyes never left Edward's face; his profile accentuated the strong jawline and defined cheekbones that only served to make his golden eyes stand out even more against his tanned complexion. "Yeah I suppose you would have more rights than anyone to be overwhelmed." She admitted with a soft chuckle, turning away and looking up again at the stars.

Edward turned his golden gaze on her and he swore his heart clenched again at the sight of her. She was so beautiful—he couldn't imagine how he had never really noticed before; or maybe he had but he just never paid attention until now.

"Edward, you—you're staring at me again like I'm some alchemic formula for a transmutation circle."

When she was met with no response, her eyes drifted to him again, only to find his intense golden eyes burning against her.

"Uh…Ed?" She blinked at him several times, gazing at him skeptically.

His lips softened into a subtle smile as he closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him. "I'm sorry, Win…I'm just glad to be home, that's all—and to be—w-with you again."

Feeling the heat rise to her cheeks, her fingers curled into fists and she gently pushed back from him. "Well g-goodness Ed, don't go getting all sentimental on me now." She laughed nervously, anxiously hoping he hadn't detected the flush in her cheeks.

He flashed his boyish grin and itched the back of his head as he always did when he felt sheepish. "Well it's not being sentimental really, I'm just being honest!"

She laughed outright then, shaking her head at him. "You know, you never change much at all!"

Edward scowled angrily. "What d'ya mean, I don't change much, I'm taller aren't I?! Who the heck are you accusing of being a short stack!" His face reddened as he shouted at her but Winry only threw her head back and laughed.

"Gosh, Edward you always hear things; I didn't say anything about your height, cool your jets!"

"Errrr…shut up, Winry!"

Without thinking, Winry stepped forward, wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a sound kiss on his cheek.

Suddenly, his mad raving came to a screeching halt when he felt the soft warmth of her lips, pressing against his cheek. His eyes widened to saucers and his whole face turned beat red. "Uh…w-win-ry?"

She pulled back—her own face redder than his—and looked up at him with a shy smile. "And you are taller, Ed—much taller. Welcome home, you idiot."

He blinked back his surprise and flashed her his most handsome grin. "Thanks, Winry."